Pelargonium plant named ‘Pacbellinda’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacbellinda’, characterized by its upright and uniformly rounded plant habit; moderate vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and semi-double light purple and reddish purple bi-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium x hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACBELLINDA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pacbellinda’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform and early-flowering Zonal Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of two unidentified proprietary selections of Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented, during the summer of 2016. Seed was collected from a number of potential parent plants, combined and sown. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated mass cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacbellinda’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacbellinda’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly rounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderate vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double light purple and reddish purple bi-colored         flowers that are held above the foliar plane on strong         peduncles.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Pacmeta’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,423. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ from plants of ‘Pacmeta’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are shorter and broader than         plants of ‘Pacmeta’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely branching         than plants of ‘Pacmeta’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Zonal Geranium are         smaller than inflorescences of plants of ‘Pacmeta’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Zonal Geranium are smaller than         flowers of plants of ‘Pacmeta’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Zonal Geranium are light purple         and reddish purple bi-colored whereas flowers of plant of         ‘Pacmeta’ are darker purple and reddish purple bi-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacbellinda’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the spring, summer and autumn in a glass-covered greenhouse in Thiendorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Zonal Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 klux to 100 klux. Plants were four months old when the photograph was taken and nine months old when the detailed description was taken. In the following detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Pacbellinda’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection             of Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of             Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly rounded plant             habit; inverted triangle; densely foliated; moderately             vigorous growth habit; moderate rapid growth rate; freely             basal branching habit with about six primary lateral             branches each with about two secondary lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching is typically not required.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 34 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Moderately pubescent; semi-glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 146C. Color, developed: Close to 148A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Rounded; roughly cordate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate, open.         -   Margin.—Crenate with shallow and divergent indentations.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, rough;             slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, rough; matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 144A; no discernible zonal pattern. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A; venation, close to             144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double flowers             arranged in roughly hemispherical umbels arising from apical             leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly             depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit             with about twelve open flowers per umbel and numerous umbels             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit; plants begin             flowering about 75 days after planting; in the garden in             Germany, flowering begins in April and continues until frost             in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the             plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.8 cm by 4.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Rounded to elliptic. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About seven; petals imbricate.             Length, upper petal: About 2.7 cm. Length, lower petal:             About 2.5 cm. Width, upper and lower petals: About 2.3 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A with             central blotch, close to 57A; venation, close to 75A; color             does not change with subsequent development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75D; venation,             close to 57C; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: If present, up to three.             Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 10 mm.             Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded to acute. Base: Narrowly             cuneate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A with             central blotch, close to 57A; venation, close to 75A; color             does not change with subsequent development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75D; venation,             close to 57C; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Sepals.—Calyx length: About 1.4 cm. Calyx diameter: About             2.2 cm. Quantity per flower: Six arranged in a single whorl;             not fused. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent;             semi-glossy. Color, when developing, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146B. Color, fully developed, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly upright to             slightly outwardly. Texture and luster: Pubescent, rough;             matte. Color: Close to 165A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 3 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 165A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About ten. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther             shape: Tubular. Anther color: Close to 58A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 168A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma             diameter: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma             color: Close to 58A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color:             Close to 58A. Ovary color: Close to 139C. Seeds and fruits:             To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed             on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Zonal     Geranium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and     pests common to Zonal Geranium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 0.5° C. to     about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacbellinda’ as illustrated and described. 